Set up board to examine NewsClick founder’s health, SC orders AIIMS

New Delhi, February 27

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to set up a medical board to examine the health condition of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail in a case registered against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

A Bench led by Justice BR Gavai directed the AIIMS Director to constitute the board and submit a report in two weeks after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, contested the report filed by the prison authorities. The board shall also consider jail records and Purkayastha’s complete medical history, the Bench added.

The Delhi High Court had on October 13 dismissed the pleas filed by Purkayastha and the news portal’s HR Department head Amit Chakravarty against their arrest and subsequent police remand in the case. They were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3.

According to the FIR, huge funds came to the news portal allegedly from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country. Purkayastha allegedly conspired with a group — People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) — to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.